Joint for prefabricated concrete blocks in non-plastic hinge zone of earthquake-resistant pier

ABSTRACT

A joint for the prefabricated concrete blocks of the quake-resistant pier developed for connecting the prefabricated reinforced concrete blocks employed in the non-plastic hinge zone of the earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete pier comprises mainly an upper prefabricated reinforced concrete block and a lower prefabricated reinforced concrete block, wherein a layer of resin binder is applied between the engaging concave and the engaging convex of the prefabricated reinforced concrete blocks, so as to connect the two prefabricated reinforced concrete blocks to withstand shear stress applied on the pier, and the two prefabricated reinforced concrete blocks are also connected firmly by pre-stressed keys to withstand bending stress applied on the pier. By connecting mechanisms, the present way of prefabricated construction can achieve the same earthquake-resistant capability as the traditional in situ construction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a joint for the prefabricated concrete blocks of the earthquake-resistant pier, and more specifically to a joint for connecting the prefabricated reinforced concrete blocks employed in the non-plastic hinge zone of the earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete pier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] At present time, the joint of the pier is generally made in situ. However, the in situ construction has many drawbacks. First, long construction period is inclined to delay the total construction time and cause traffic jam. Second, higher cost is usually ensued than other alternative. Third, construction quality cannot be easily controlled. Forth, The construction is restricted by the space available. Although there are many drawbacks for the in situ construction, the way of construction has been employed until the present time because the alternative, the prefabricated construction, greatly decreases the overall safety of the joints, such as energy dissipating capability and toughness. If a novel apparatus or a novel way of construction can do away with the drawbacks associated with the in situ construction without causing safety concern, the construction quality can be greatly enhanced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a joint connecting the prefabricated concrete blocks in the non-plastic hinge zone of the quake-resistant piers, which can be widely employed in the reinforced concrete pier of bridge structures, wherein the prefabricated construction can replace the in situ construction. The present joint is not only free from the drawbacks associated with the in situ construction, but also applicable to many kinds of hollow reinforced concrete piers with rectangle, circular, or irregular cross-section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is the perspective assembly view of the present invention;

[0005]FIG. 2 is the exploded assembly view of the present invention;

[0006]FIG. 3 is the schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 4 is the perspective assembly view of the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 5 is the schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention, and

[0009]FIG. 6 is the cyclic loading test results showing the relationship between the displacements and the loads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] One embodiment of the present invention will be described to characterize functions, structures, and features of the present invention.

[0011] With reference to the FIG. 1, the perspective assembly view of the present invention, a joint for the prefabricated concrete blocks developed in the non-plastic hinge zone of the earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete pier, is illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the pier is hollow in cross-section. For the joint 1 of the prefabricated concrete blocks of the quake-resistant piers, resin binder is applied on the engaging concave at the upper reinforced concrete block and on the engaging convex at the lower reinforced concrete block, so as to connect the prefabricated block 1 against the shear stress applied on the piers. Also, the upper reinforced concrete block 11 and the lower reinforced concrete block 12 are connected firmly by pre-stressed keys to withstand the bending moment applied on the pier. By the two described mechanisms, the present prefabricated construction can reach the same level of earthquake-resistant property as the traditional in situ construction.

[0012] The exploded assembly view and the schematic cross-sectional view of the preset invention are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively, wherein the joint 1 for the prefabricated concrete blocks of the quake-resistant piers mainly comprises the upper reinforced concrete block 11 and the lower reinforced concrete block 12. Furthermore, on the bottom of the upper reinforced concrete block 11 and on the top of the lower reinforced concrete block 12 are provided respectively with an engaging concave 111 and an engaging convex 121, wherein the engaging concave 111 and the engaging convex 121 are complementary in shape. The engaging concave 111 and the engaging convex 121 can also be any other shapes other than the shapes described here. Also, a layer of resin binder can be applied between the engaging concave 111 and the engaging convex 121, so as to connect the joint 1 for the prefabricated concrete blocks of the quake-resistant piers. Finally, on the corresponding areas of the upper-reinforced concrete block 11 and the lower reinforced concrete block 12 are provided with a plurality of draw holes 13, wherein a pre-stressed key 3 is provided in each draw hole 13 internally, so as to connect the upper reinforced concrete block 11 and the lower reinforced concrete block 12 firmly together by engaging the pre-stressed keys 3 and the draw holes 13.

[0013] The perspective assembly view and the cross-sectional view of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively, wherein the joint 1 for the prefabricated concrete blocks of the quake-resistant pier mainly comprises the upper reinforced concrete block 11 and the lower reinforced concrete block 12. Apart from being connected together by resin binder 12 and pre-stressed keys 3, the exterior of the joint of the upper reinforced concrete block 11 and the lower reinforced concrete block 12 is wrapped with a reinforced layer 4, which may be a single layer or multi-layers. The material of the reinforced layer 4 can be steel plate or fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) material. Whereas, the exteriors of engaging concave 111 of the upper reinforced concrete block 11 and the engaging convex 121 of the lower reinforced concrete block 12 can be installed a plurality of reinforced steels 14, by which the overall strength and shear strength can be enhanced.

[0014] With reference to FIG. 6, the cyclic loading test results for the relationship between displacement and load are shown, wherein the present invention can achieve the same level of shear strength and bending strength, and very close level of energy-dissipating capability and toughness as the traditionally in-situ-constructed hollow concrete reinforced piers. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A joint for the prefabricated concrete blocks of the earthquake-resistant pier which is developed for the non-plastic hinge zone of the earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete pier, wherein said joint for the prefabricated concrete blocks of said quake-resistant pier mainly comprises a upper reinforced concrete block and a lower reinforced concrete block, on the bottom of said upper reinforced concrete block and on the top of said lower reinforced concrete block are provided with an engaging concave and an engaging convex respectively, wherein said engaging concave and said engaging convex are complementary in shape so as to connect said two prefabricated concrete blocks to withstand shear stress applied on the pier, and said blocks are also connected firmly by pre-stressed keys to withstand bending stress applied on said pier.
 2. The joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein resin binder can be applied on said engaging concave of said upper reinforced concrete block and on said engaging convex of said lower reinforced concrete block.
 3. The joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exterior of said joint of said upper reinforced concrete block and said lower reinforced concrete block can be wrapped with a reinforced layer
 4. The joint as claimed in claim 3, wherein said reinforced layer may be a single layer or multi-layers, and the material of said reinforced layer can be steel plate or fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) material.
 5. The joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exteriors of said engaging concave of said upper reinforced concrete block and said engaging convex of said lower reinforced concrete block can be installed a plurality of reinforced steels. 